Albertville jump-starts redevelopment projects

New lighting fixtures have been purchased by the city and were placed all long both sides of Main Street.

ALBERTVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

The City of Albertville is in the midst of a downtown redevelopment plan. It is expected to take years to complete, but city officials are not waiting to get started.

The complete renovation plan will take a lot of time and money, which means they will be applying for grants to help keep progress going. To get started, city officials have partnered with local utilities to make the downtown look nicer.

New lighting fixtures have been purchased by the city and were placed all long both sides of Main Street. The project started a month ago, and all the fixtures became operational last week.

The city is now working on a partnership with the Municipal Utilities Board and AT&T to begin moving cables and lines underground. Council President Nathan Broadhurst said the utilities were absorbing some of the cost, so it's making the beautification project a reasonably-priced job.

Broadhurst said the new look and plans are bringing business interests back to downtown. "I think it's very exciting for the citizens, and I think the business community is seeing a real opportunity in our downtown that hasn't been there in the past," he said.

The city was awarded a grant worth tens of thousands of dollars to redevelop the downtown area. City officials have been meeting with planners of that project this week. Lights and lines are just small things city officials are trying to do as they plan for the future.

Some buildings in the area are unfilled and in need of repair, which some of that money will go towards. Some positives are already showing: some new restaurants have opened downtown, giving an air of excitement for an area that is growing.

Broadhurst said streets, walkways, facades and other things will be considered as they allocate grant money across the project. Planners will be meeting with city leaders and the public before a final plan is drafted.

"We will be working with a steering committee that will spearhead the community's effort in putting it together," he said. "We'll also have opportunities for the citizens to give us input on what they want to see downtown."

Broadhurst said the council is also looking at applying for a grant to get some sidewalk work done in the next month.